(1) Shalmaneser, appointee of the god Enlil, holy vice-regent of the god Aššur, appointee of the gods, prince, favorite of the goddess Ištar, the one who keeps rituals and offerings pure, the one who makes abundant the presentation offerings for all the gods, founder of holy cult centers, builder of Eḫursagkurkurra — shrine of the gods —, (and) mountain of the lands — astonishing great dragon, shepherd of all the settlements, the one whose conduct is abundantly pleasing to Aššur, valiant hero, capable in battles, crusher of enemies, the one who makes resound the noise of battle with his enemies, whose aggressive battle flashes like a flame and whose weapons attack like a merciless death-trap, steadfast prince who acts with the support of the god Aššur and the great gods, his lords, and has no rival, capturer of enemy districts above and below, the lord at whose feet the god Aššur and the great gods have subdued all rulers and princes:

(22) When Aššur, the lord, faithfully chose me to worship him, gave me the scepter, weapon, and staff to (rule) properly the black-headed people, and granted me the true crown of lordship; at that time, at the beginning of my vice-regency, the land Uruaṭri rebelled against me. I prayed to the god Aššur and the great gods, my lords. I mustered my troops (and) marched up to the mass of their mighty mountains. I conquered the lands Ḫimme, Uatqun, Mašgun (or Bargun), Salua, Ḫalila, Lūḫu, Nilipaḫri (or (Ş/Zallipaḫri), and Zingun — eight lands and their fighting forces; fifty-one of their cities I destroyed, burnt, (and) carried off their people and property. I subdued all of the land Uruaṭri in three days at the feet of Aššur, my lord. I took a selection of their young men (and) I chose them to enter my service. I imposed upon them (the conquered regions) heavy tribute of the mountains forever.

(47) The city Arinu, the holy city founded in bedrock, which had previously rebelled (and) disregarded Aššur: with the support of Aššur and the great gods, my lords, I captured (and) destroyed that city and sowed salty plants over it. I gathered (some of) its earth and made a heap of it at the gate of my city, Aššur, for posterity.

(54) At that time I subdued all of the land Muṣri at the feet of Aššur, my lord.

(56) When by the command of the great gods (and) with the exalted strength of Aššur, my lord, I marched to the land Ḫanigalbat, I opened up most difficult paths (and) passes. Šattuara, king of the land Ḫanigalbat, with the aid of the armies of the Hittites and Aḫlamu, captured the passes and watering-places (in) my (path). When my army was thirsty and fatigued (lit. “because of the thirst and fatigue of my army”) their army made a fierce attack in strength. But I struck (back), and brought about their defeat. I slaughtered countless numbers of their extensive army. As for him (Šattuara), I chased him at arrow point until sunset. I butchered their hordes (but) 14,400 of them (who remained) alive I blinded (and) carried off. I conquered nine of his fortified cult centers (as well as) the city from which he ruled and I turned 180 of his cities into ruin hills. I slaughtered like sheep the armies of the Hittites and Aḫlamu, his allies. At that time I captured their cities (in the region) from Taʾidu to Irridu, all of Mount Kašiiari to the city Eluḫat, the fortress of Sūdu, the fortress of Ḫarrānu to Carchemish which is on the bank of the Euphrates. I became ruler over their lands and set fire to the remainder of their cities.

(88) Afterwards, the Qutu whose number like stars in the sky no one knows (and who) are skilled in murder, rebelliously turned against me (and) committed hostilities. I prayed to Aššur and the great gods, my lords, and they gave me a straight answer, a firm yes. I left my army's camp taking one third of my best chariotry (and) threw (them) into battle against them (the Qutu). I poured out the lives of their extensive troops like water from the border of the land Uruaṭri to the land Kutmuḫu, a remote region (and) a crossing of great distance. I filled the extensive countryside with the corpses of their warriors. I brought to my city Aššur their (lit. “his”) captives, herds, wild animals in captivity, and property.

(107) Faithful shepherd whose name the gods Anu and Enlil have called (into being) forever, I, eternal seed, one who knows the gods; son of Adad-nārārī (I), appointee of the god Enlil, vice-regent of Aššur; son of Arik-dīn-ili (who was) also appointee of the god Enlil (and) vice-regent of Aššur:

(112) At that time Eḫursagkurkurra, the temple of Aššur, my lord — which Ušpia, vice-regent of Aššur, my forefather had previously built and (when) it became dilapidated Erišum (I), my forefather, vice-regent of Aššur, rebuilt (it and when) 159 years had passed after the reign of Erišum (I) and that temple had (again) become dilapidated Šamšī-Adad (I) (who was) also vice-regent of Aššur rebuilt (it and) 580 years (passed) — that temple, which Šamšī-Adad (I), vice-regent of Aššur, had rebuilt and which had become extremely old: fire broke out in it. The temple, its sanctuary, the chapels, shrines, daises, cult platforms, stools, all the property of the temple of Aššur, my lord, burnt in the fire.

(129) At that time I cleared away (the debris of) that temple entirely (and) removed the dirt down to the bottom of the foundation pit. I laid its foundation in bedrock like the base of a mountain. I put a great deal of effort into building for Aššur my lord the holy temple, the high shrine, the lofty dais, the awesome sanctuary, which was built much more cunningly than before, (which) rises (from the ground) wondrously, (which) is dedicated as befits his great divinity, (which) is greatly appropriate for his lordship. At its foundation I set stones, silver, gold, iron, copper, tin, layers of aromatic plants (lit. “aromatic plants upon aromatic plants”). I mixed its plaster with oil, scented oil, cedar resin, honey, and ghee. I rebuilt (the temple) from top to bottom. I deposited my monumental inscriptions (and) made a joyful festival for it.

(149) When Aššur, the lord, enters that temple and joyfully takes his place on the lofty dais, may he see the brilliant work of that temple and rejoice. May he receive my prayers, may he hear my supplications. For eternity may he greatly decree with his mighty voice a destiny of well-being for my vice-regency and for the vice-regency of my progeny (and) abundance during my reign.

(156) I anointed with oil the monumental inscriptions of former kings, made sacrifices, (and) returned (them) to their places.

(158) In the future may a later prince, when that temple becomes old and dilapidated, hear of my heroic deeds (and) recount my praiseworthy power. As I returned the monumental inscriptions of former kings to their places, may he anoint with oil my monumental inscriptions, make sacrifices, (and) return (them) to their places. (Then) the god Aššur and the goddess Ninlil will listen to his prayers.

(163) He who removes my monumental inscriptions (and) discards my inscribed name: May Aššur, the exalted god, dweller of Eḫursagkurkurra, the Igīgū of heaven (and) the Anunnakū of the underworld — all of them, glare at him angrily and inflict upon him in their wrath an evil curse. May they destroy his name (and) his seed from the land. May a king who is his enemy take away his throne and under his very eyes rule his land.

(168) Dates exs. 1, 3, 6, 8: Month of Ša-sarrāte, eponymy of Mušallim-Aššur. Ex. 5: Month of Ša-sarrāte, 26(?)th day, eponymy of Aššur-nādin-šumāti.